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Most heard songs

What’s the play count on your most played song in your iTunes library? My top five are:

Emerge by Fischerspooner, 97 plays
Alpha Beta Gaga by Air, 76 plays
A Dream by Cut Copy, 68 plays
Take Me Out by Franz Ferdinand (Daft Punk mix), 68 plays
Around the World by Daft Punk, 66 plays

Sixteen songs in my library have been played 50 times or more. More than 70 songs have been played at least 35 times. I’m wondering where that lies on the scale of obsession…do I listen to my favorite songs more or less than normal? If you folks can be considered normal…. ;)

Reader comments

SunilApr 11, 2008 at 4:23PM

Not Tonight - Tegan & Sara, 65 plays
Cry Me a River - Justin Timberlake, 45 plays
Magic Box - Insides, 44 plays
Guerilla Monsoon Rap, Talib Kweli, 43 plays
Deep Red Bells, Neko Case, 40 plays

Marcelo WolfgangApr 11, 2008 at 4:27PM

Another curious data is the most skipped songs ( you have to add this column by right clicking on the bar ... )

Jordon CooperApr 11, 2008 at 4:28PM

Mine are all Coldplay which is odd because I didn't think I listened to Coldplay all that much but Last.fm doesn't lie...

hubsApr 11, 2008 at 4:30PM

I think last.fm is a more accurate count of the songs I listen to because it includes the count of songs played on iTunes (at home), my iPod, and winamp (at work). That said, here is my count (total tracks played: 5,976) :
Beastie Boys – Country Mike's Theme 13
Propagodz – Trax Cut Cold 9
The Raconteurs – Together 8
The Raconteurs – Yellow Sun 8
Animaniacs – The Planets 7

This tells me I consume nowhere near the amount of music I should be.

MikeApr 11, 2008 at 4:30PM

Thunder Road - Bruce Springsteen, 119 plays
Intervention - Arcade Fire, 102 plays
Changing of the Guards - Bob Dylan, 91 plays
Neighbourhood #1 - Arcade Fire, 80 plays
Murders in the Rue Morgue - Iron Maiden, 51 plays


RyanApr 11, 2008 at 4:30PM

1. Cap'n Jazz - Oh Messy Life
2. The Weakerthans - Aside
3. Modest Mouse - Gray Ice Water
4. Animal Collective - Did You See the Words
5. Modest Mouse - Sleepwalkin'

ZachApr 11, 2008 at 4:31PM

My top five most played are:
Backyard by Guster, 340 plays
New Slang by The Shins, 240 plays
Such Great Heights by The Postal Service, 234 plays
Wonderwall by Oasis, 226 plays
Two Points For Honesty by Guster, 222 plays

I have played:
833 songs 25 times or more
270 songs 50 times or more
58 songs 100 times or more
7 songs 200 times or more

Steve IvyApr 11, 2008 at 4:32PM

Umbrella by Manic Street Preachers - 365 plays
Major Tom (Coming Home) by I Hate Kate - 102 plays
Khyzer Zuke Found Alive! from Mashuptown.com - 83 plays
United States Of Pop by DJ Earworm from Mashuptown.com - 59 plays
Glycerine by Luke Koteras - 55 plays

nungeeApr 11, 2008 at 4:32PM

you just surprised me with fischerspooner.
one of the few songs of that 'genre' that i really like.
(don't have a playcount available just now)

I keed... I keed...Apr 11, 2008 at 4:32PM

David: You know how I know you're gay?
Cal: How?
David: You like Coldplay.

JAKApr 11, 2008 at 4:34PM

J-Dilla's album Donuts has been played 57 times. Every song on it is competing for number 1. Great album.

Reuben DalkeApr 11, 2008 at 4:36PM

My top tracks have been played more than 600 times. I'm a little obsessive.

AlexApr 11, 2008 at 4:45PM

Justice - D.A.N.C.E. (331 plays)
Justice vs. Simian - We Are Your Friends (292 plays)
LCD Soundsystem - All My Friends (245 plays)
Interpol - Pioneer to the Falls (228 plays)
Daft Punk - Aerodynamic (187 plays)

Would be higher if my iTunes metadata didn't reset each time I moved my library.

ChrisApr 11, 2008 at 4:46PM

1. Rapture - Anthony and the Johnsons
2. The Pioneers - Bloc Party
3. Glory Days - Bruce Springsteen
4. Crayon and Ink - Alison Crowe
5. All Along the Watchtower - Bob Dylan

But then I have a smart playlist that fills my ipod with songs I haven't listened to for a while so I don't get bored. A side effect of this is that I get an even distribution of play counts, surprisingly so.

Thomas UptonApr 11, 2008 at 4:48PM

Inertiatic E.S.P. - The Mars Volta (98 plays)
Welcome Home - Coheed and Cambria (96 plays)
Ten Speed (Of God's Blood and Burial) - Coheed and Cambria (76 plays)
Roulette Dares (The Haunt Of) - The Mars Volta (71 plays)
Crossing the Frame - Coheed and Cambria (70 plays)

Well, that seems to be a bit biased. The most recently played tracks on this list were last played in January of this year.

NickApr 11, 2008 at 4:48PM

If you count the O.A.R. cd in my car that I left there since it came out, I bet Live From Madison Square Garden Disc 1 would have over 250 plays.

ThomasApr 11, 2008 at 4:49PM

My #1 on Last.fm is "Green Typewriters" by The Olivia Tremor Control but that's misleading because there are nine songs by them that are all named "Green Typewriters"
2-6 are as follows:
2. Galaxie 500 – Listen, the Snow is Falling
3. Ms. John Soda – Scan the ways
4. Galaxie 500 – Here She Comes Now
5. Ms. John Soda – A nod on hold
6. Ms. John Soda – Plenty of

Galaxie 500 does the best covers! Both of these are on the (reissue) of This is Our Music. The Ms. John Soda songs are from their amazing Notes and the Like.

crazymonkApr 11, 2008 at 4:56PM

My play count was recently reset and I tend to listen to whole albums, so here are my recent top 5, skipping some to have unique artists:

1. Nude -- Radiohead (13)
2. Keep your Distance -- Amon Tobin (12)
3. Race : In -- Battles (12)
4. Irene -- Caribou (11)
5. Girl in the War -- Josh Ritter (11)

NMApr 11, 2008 at 4:58PM

1. See You at the Lights - 1990s: 156
2. O Mestre Sala dos Mares - Joao Bosco: 124
3. She's Fantastic - Sondre Lerche: 96
4. Ready for the Floor - Hot Chip: 70
5. D.A.N.C.E. - Justice: 58

GrahamApr 11, 2008 at 5:00PM

Transit: For Suchan Kinoshita - Alva Noto 62 plays
Station Remo: For Tvpow - Alva Noto 62 plays
Gulf Night: For Peter Roehr - Alva Noto 55 plays
Jr.: For Katsushika Hokusai - Alva Noto 54 plays
Flashforward: For Ernie and Bert - Alva Noto 48 plays

Hmm... had never looked at the most played thing before. This album by Alva Noto is the only music I can listen to and work at the same time.

Chris KoernerApr 11, 2008 at 5:02PM

1. Shawn Lee's Ping Pong Orchestra feat. Nino Moschella – Kiss the Sky - 20
2. Feist – 1234 - 20
3. Camille – Ta douleur - 17
4. Iron & Wine – Freedom Hangs Like Heaven - 16
5. Lily Allen – Knock 'Em Out - 15

benschomaticApr 11, 2008 at 5:04PM

1. M. Ward – Radio Campaign - 50 plays
2. Iron & Wine – Love and Some Verses - 46
3. Akron/Family – I'll Be on the Water - 45 (One of my favorite songs of all time. My wife & I chose it for our first dance at our wedding.)
4. My Morning Jacket – One Big Holiday - 44
5. Air – Run - 39

I don't feel so obsessive after peeking at the numbers of others.

mas2dfApr 11, 2008 at 5:04PM

The problem is that iTunes only increases the play count if the song is played to completion. If you listen to 90% of a song (because it has 10 seconds of silence at the end of it), it won't increase the play count. I would prefer that you could set a threshold for play counts (i.e. if you listen to 50% of a song, it will increase the play count).

And iTunes doesn't import the play count from the library.xml file if you move libraries! Why iTunes? Why!

Russell CoddApr 11, 2008 at 5:07PM

1. The Smiths – A Rush and a Push and the Land is Ours - 46
2. Me First and the Gimme Gimmes – Hello - 43
3. Ted Leo and The Pharmacists – Since U Been Gone - 39
3. They Might Be Giants – Ana Ng - 39
5. DragonForce – Cry of the Brave - 38

Of course for top artists They Might Be Giants outstrips everything else by a ration of 3 to 1...

AlishaApr 11, 2008 at 5:12PM

Bill Withers - Ain't No Sunshine - 55 plays
Timbaland - The Way I Are - 43 plays
Bob Marley and the Wailers - Stir It Up - 42 plays
Sara Bareilles - Undertow - 41 plays
Thievery Corporation - Revolution Solution - 39 plays

LisaApr 11, 2008 at 5:14PM

I have a limited iTunes library here at work, but here are my top 5 (they were surprising to me! I don't usually have Play Count turned on)

1. James Morrison - The Pieces Don't Fit Anymore - 75
2. LCD Soundsystem - Someone Great - 65
3. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible - 62
4. Cold War Kids - Hair Down - 61
5. The Beatles - Strawberry Fields - 61 (the LOVE version)

nadirApr 11, 2008 at 5:19PM

from my last.fm stats:

1. edith frost - cars and parties 158
2. fiest - mushaboom 156
3. cub - new york city 153
4. laura veirs - galaxies 150
5. henri mancini - charade (main title) 132

and 17 songs with over 100 plays

TimApr 11, 2008 at 5:20PM

1. Mr Curiosity - Jason Mraz (127)
2. I'm yours (live at AOL) - Jason Mraz (101)
3. My missing - Xavier Rudd (89)
4. Angel - Jack Johnson (88)
5. 9 crimes - Damien Rice (86)

en_dashApr 11, 2008 at 5:21PM

John Vanderslice, White Plains - 55
The Olivia Tremor Control, No Growing (Exegesis) - 54
The Fiery Furnaces, Spaniolated - 50
The Flaming Lips, Are You A Hypnotist?? - 50
The Beatles, Nowhere Man - 46
The Olivia Tremor Control, Memories of Jacqueline 1906 - 46

I think high-counts are more a function of being on an oft-played playlist plus length of time which they've been in my possession rather than a strict indicator of 'favorite songs'.

TomekApr 11, 2008 at 5:21PM

I would say those are pretty normal stats, if we're talking about obsession here are stats from one of my friends:
1 Mushroomhead – Simple Survival 591
2 Mushroomhead – Kill Tomorrow 375
3 Eddie Vedder – Hard Sun 372
4 Eddie Vedder – Far Behind 336
5 Her – Drzewoo 248

Dave MungerApr 11, 2008 at 5:22PM

Since I nearly always listen to my music over the network using a central music server, iTunes doesn't keep count.

Just about the only music I can listen to while I'm actually at my computer writing are Mozart piano concerti. I've listened to Concerto No. 9 in E flat 33 times, but I'm sure there are other songs I've listened to more over the network and just haven't been counted.

en_dashApr 11, 2008 at 5:22PM

Listening to an Eddie Vedder song over 300 times is a violation of the Geneva Convention.

StephenApr 11, 2008 at 5:23PM

Most played (not counting my band, or friends' bands):
1. The Feelies - On The Roof - 12
2. Psychic TV - Godstar (7" version) - 11
3. Arthur Russell - Arm Around You - 10
4. Durutti Column - Never Known - 9
5. Psychic TV - Roman P (Fireball mix) - 9

KirkApr 11, 2008 at 5:26PM

I have several (over 20 songs) above the 200 level. This is because I go to sleep with music, and wake up with it as an alarm clock as well (Awaken). So all the high numbers are mellow. Like:

The Other Side of Mt. Heart Attack - Liars - 648
Eyes - Rogue Wave - 641
Comfy in Nautica - Panda Bear - 587

Rumsey TaylorApr 11, 2008 at 5:26PM

A kiwi near-monopoly:

1. The Chills - The Oncoming Day (115 plays)
2. The Chills - Familiarity Breeds Contempt (102 plays)
3. The Fiery Furnaces - South is only a Home (92 plays)
4. The Chills - Look for the Good in Others and They'll See the Good in You (88 plays)
5. Led Zeppelin - Bron-Y-Aur Stomp (86 plays)

RyanApr 11, 2008 at 5:30PM

Kirk says: Comfy in Nautica - Panda Bear

Nice! If I was forced to listen to only one song for the rest of my life, that would be my choice.

LostInaFogApr 11, 2008 at 5:30PM

Surprised me...

Trace Adkins Comin' On Strong (196)
Brian McComas 99.9% Sure (170)
John Lennon Imagine (168)
Los Lonely Boys Heaven (163)
Jerry Lee Lewis Somewhere Over the Rainbow (160)

Yeah, thats right, Jerry Lee Lewis....How could I have no Springsteen show up? I'm so ashamed....Bruce's Read-Headed Woman is all the way down at about 50 at 105 plays.

Kevin SpencerApr 11, 2008 at 5:32PM

So sayeth last.fm:

The Birthday Massacre - Horror Show (110)
Japan - Quiet Life (90)
Depeche Mode - Precious (87)
Hocico - Tales From The Third World (79)
The Birthday Massacre - Happy Birthday (79)

joelApr 11, 2008 at 5:44PM

jason,

make a muxtape of your most listened to songs.

MattApr 11, 2008 at 5:46PM

Master Exploder by Tenacious D from The Pick Of Destiny soundtrack. I don't know why, but I just keep playing it (and playing it, and playing it, and playing it, and playing it...).

Probably because it's AWESOME.

Next top pick is Crisis by Bob Marley. I think that's just random luck though!

J von CupcakeApr 11, 2008 at 5:47PM

Those are some pretty wonderful top fivethingies I see here.
My top five :

1. Pillow - Discotek ; 77
2. Beirut - Nantes ; 66
3. Pantha Du Prince - Saturn Strobe ; 61
4. Morrissey - First Of The Gang To Die ; 57
5. Trentemoller feat. Ane Trolle - Moan ; 50

If you like to know how obsessed you are with your music, perhaps you should check out last.fm - you download a little program that keeps track of which songs you listen to, and that information goes onto your profile. That way you get lovely lists of how many times you have already listened to this or that band the past week. It's deliciously addictive, trust me. What's great about it is that they also tell you which bands the people with similar taste listen to, because chances are that you might like that music as well. You can also tag your songs and listen to the radio for free - you just type in a tagword (ranging from, say, 'indie' to 'eargasmic') and then you immediately get a seemingly endless stream of music tagged as such by other listeners. You can also type in the name of a band or an artist, and then similar music gets played. It's a great way to discover new music.

Heather RasleyApr 11, 2008 at 5:48PM

I have a compulsion to delete all of my music files and start over every eight months or so. I just did a cleanup and am starting to rebuild, so these numbers are hilariously low. Very indicative of my current likes:

1) "Magic Spells" - Crystal Castles, 5
2) "Kids" - MGMT, 4
3) "Fascination" - Alphabeat, 3
4) "Future" - Cut Copy, 3
5) "Neighborhoods" - Matthew Dear, 3

MattApr 11, 2008 at 5:50PM

Master Exploder by Tenacious D from The Pick Of Destiny soundtrack. I don't know why, but I just keep playing it (and playing it, and playing it, and playing it, and playing it...).

Probably because it's AWESOME.

Next top pick is Crisis by Bob Marley. I think that's just random luck though!

JakeApr 11, 2008 at 5:59PM

1) Pieces of the Scientist (Coldpay/Sum 41 mash-up) 71
2) Warning Sign (Coldplay) 69
3) The District Sleeps Alone Tonight (Postal Service) 58
4) Cigarette (Ben Folds Five) 49
5) Such Great Heights (Postal Service) 46

This is kind of depressing/interesting because I thought A) my musical tastes were more diverse/evolved than iTunes says it is, and B) I haven't listened to four of these songs in at least a month. Is this an accurate representation of my musical tastes, or some sort of anthropological record of evolving taste over time?

DaricApr 11, 2008 at 6:00PM

Figurine - IMpossible (77)
Radiohead - Optimistic (66)
Justice - DVNO (65)
Justice - Phantom (54)
The Postal Service - Such Great Heights (54)

10 songs ≥ 50 plays
31 songs ≥ 40 plays
130 songs ≥ 30 plays
502 songs ≥ 20 plays
1720 songs ≥ 10 plays
5558 songs ≥ 1 play

It's a relatively shallow distribution curve with a long tail.

Chris PattersonApr 11, 2008 at 6:05PM

5) The Commander Thinks Aloud - The Long Winters (208 plays)
4) When It Falls - Zero 7 (210 plays)
3) Crazy - Gnarls Barkley (254 plays)
2) Theme From Mortal Kombat - The Immortals (562 plays)
1) Meow Meow Meow Meow - Meow Mix (1537 plays)

I really don't have a good explanation for why the hell the Meow Mix jingle has such a high play count. In my defense, it looks like it hasn't gotten any rotation since at least October 2nd.

AaronApr 11, 2008 at 6:13PM

Just One Thing - My Morning Jacket - 167 Plays
One a Neck, On a Spit - Grizzly Bear - 128 Plays
Au Fond du Temple Saint - David Byrne - 115 Plays
Cinder and Smoke - Iron and Wine - 114 Plays
Interlude - Morrissey @ Siouxsie Sioux - 114 Plays

filchyboyApr 11, 2008 at 6:19PM

1) The Trapeze Swinger - Iron & Wine (740 Plays)
2) Crazy - Ray LaMontagne (452)
3) Better Together - Jack Johnson (277)
4) Never Know - Jack Johnson (267)
5) Banana Pancakes - Jack Johnson (265)

sho'frApr 11, 2008 at 6:28PM

a bunch of song you never heard of (187+ Plays)
Help - The Beatles (172 Plays)
more songs you never heard of (160 Plays)

b3ukApr 11, 2008 at 6:36PM

I thought I was the only one obsessed with playcounts!

Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours - Stevie Wonder - 157
The Seed (2.0) - The Roots - 136
Teenage Kicks - The Undertones - 127
(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher - Jackie WIlson - 120
Lynguistics - CunninLynguists - 118

raulApr 11, 2008 at 6:47PM

I have a pretty huge library and some time ago I decided I should explore it more listen to as much as possible of it, so when in itunes I listen to a smart playlist that only shows songs whose play count is zero.

Playlists do get repeated around the house, but when I'm there with my headphones it something new every day.

atanas entchevApr 11, 2008 at 6:48PM

Won't You Come Again -- Susie Suh -- 92
Your Battlefield -- Susie Suh -- 58
Recognition -- Susie Suh -- 49
Seasons Change -- Susie Suh -- 40
Here with Me -- Dido -- 39

And yes, I do have other music as well.

John RodenbikerApr 11, 2008 at 6:49PM

I'm pretty careful to keep my mix mixed. Shuffling through smart playlists of everything I haven't heard in the past three months or at least five times means I get a pretty even earful of all ~2500 songs in my library.

That being said, 40 of my top 50 are by Raffi. (Yes, I have a two-year-old who loves to sing and dance.)

KennethApr 11, 2008 at 6:51PM

Holy Manna - Anonymous 4 - 16
Storsvarten (The Big Black One) - Olov Johansson - 14
Wondrous Love - Anonymous 4 - 13
Jewett - Anonymous 4 - 13
Come again, sweet love - Brian Awawa - 12

Nic WolffApr 11, 2008 at 7:05PM

Huh, apparently I'm a big Joss Stone fan:

All The King's Horses - Joss Stone - 100
Super Duper Love (Are You Diggin' On Me?) - Joss Stone - 86
Across 110th Street - Bobby Womack - 82
Revolver - The Donnas - 81
Fall Behind Me - The Donnas - 79

PeterApr 11, 2008 at 7:14PM

Grimly Fiendish - The Damed, 154
Shining Road - Cranes, 147
Lush 3-4 - Orbital, 147
Hyper-Ballad - Bjork, 145
Marlene Dietrich's F avourite Poem, Peter Murphy, 141

johnApr 11, 2008 at 7:15PM

You guys are way nuts. My top listened to is maybe 12 or 15. And it's Wings of Thorn by GBV or Magdeline Mary by Bonny Prince Billy. I've been tracking my playcounts for 5 years.

I can't stand listening to most albums more than 10 or so times within a 2 year span.

I'm on the "We don't have exponential profiles" group on last.fm, by the way. And last.fm is not accurate about playcounts because it groups together a bunch of untitleds.

Mitch WrightApr 11, 2008 at 7:18PM

I personally have a smart playlist in iTunes that contains the top 100 most played songs and I'll often get that going on random, so my number are going to be a bit skewed I think. My 100th song was still played 20 times.

What If I do? - Foo Fighters (43)
Boulevard Of Broken Dreams - Green Day (41)
Such Great Heights - Iron and Wine (38)
What Am I to You - Norah Jones (38)
Yellow Ledbetter - Pearl Jam (38)
Absent Elements - Finger Eleven (36)

ChadApr 11, 2008 at 7:30PM

Peter Gabriel: Growing Up (31)
Joseph Arthur: Can't Exist (25)
Jimi Hendrix: Little Wing (21)
Robert Miles: Paths (FSOL Cosmic Jukebox Remix) (21)
Beth Orton: Stars All Seem to Weep (21)

Andy KingApr 11, 2008 at 7:32PM

M. Ward – Chinese Translation
Lambchop – The Old Matchbook Trick
M. Ward – To Go Home
M. Ward – Poison Cup
M. Ward – Right in the Head

EdApr 11, 2008 at 7:34PM

Based on last.fm:

Me, out of 17686 plays:

1. Why? – Untitled 55
2. The Avalanches – Since I Left You 34
3. The Avalanches – Stay Another Season 30
4. RJD2 – Poorboy Lover Megamix 28
5. The Avalanches – Little Journey 24

The wife, out of 16130 plays:

1. Boards of Canada - Dayvan Cowboy 63
2. Daft Punk - Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger 58
3. Daft Punk - One More Time 55
4. Daft Punk - Something About Us 53
5. Royskopp - Triumphant 52

Of course, we both mostly play full albums. last.fm is a little flawed for this purpose, since it groups all tracks with identical titles together. That RJD2 mix has 30-some identically titled tracks. Same for the Why? stuff.

Andy KingApr 11, 2008 at 7:38PM

Erm...forgot the play count. Here they are, in order:

141
140
132
131
128

KaitlinApr 11, 2008 at 7:40PM

Cinema Novo - Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil (29)
Pai e Mae - Gilberto Gil (29)
Baiao Atemporal - Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil (28)
Refazenda - Gilberto Gil (26)
Lua e Estrela - Caetano Veloso (25)
O Telefone Tocou Novamente - Jorge Ben (25)

Apparently my tastes are very narrow . . . the top five are also played in my car nearly every day, which probably amounts to hundreds of plays each.

TinaApr 11, 2008 at 7:40PM

Since I use my iPod for teaching group fitness classes, I have two lists:

Most played for personal pleasure are ALL Death Cab For Cutie:
1. Soul Meets Body (51 plays)
2. Summer Skin (40 plays)
3. Different Names For The Same Thing (28 plays)
4. Your Heart Is An Empty Room (28 plays)
5. Crooked Teeth (28 plays)

I've had my iPod less than a year so this reflects that Plans is the one 'album' I really fell in love with since I've owned it and so played over and over (28 times perhaps? With favourite songs on higher rotation).

Most rehearsed/taught songs in my BODYBALANCE classes: (www.lesmills.com/bodybalance)
1. Angelicus Featuring Bayrakdarian by Delerium (50 plays)
2. Music Matters Featuring Cass Fox by Faithless (47 plays)
3. Breathe Me by Sia (45 plays)
4. Fragile by Sting (45 plays)
5. A Symphony of Brainwaves Part 2 - The Deep by Andrew Weil (43 plays)

These are songs I learnt when I first started teaching and so 1) I had to rehearse them more to make sure I knew what I was doing and 2) they're all songs I really like so I've taught them more than other tracks.

Great thread!

KaitlinApr 11, 2008 at 7:42PM

Cinema Novo - Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil (29)
Pai e Mae - Gilberto Gil (29)
Baiao Atemporal - Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil (28)
Refazenda - Gilberto Gil (26)
Lua e Estrela - Caetano Veloso (25)
O Telefone Tocou Novamente - Jorge Ben (25)

Apparently my tastes are very narrow . . . the top five are also played in my car nearly every day, which probably amounts to hundreds of plays each.

frozendevilApr 11, 2008 at 7:47PM

Every track off of Emergency & I, by the Dismemberment Plan, has 95 plays, which is the highest.

Following that is all of Offcell by Pinback, with 67.

Then Hey Sandy by Polaris (The Pete & Pete song) with 63.

Then all of You'll Rebel To Anything by Mindless Self Indulgence with 60.

Then all of Señor Smoke by the Electric Six with 53.

250/7631 songs have been played more than 30 times.

If you can't tell, I have somewhat of a compulsion to listen to listen to a whole album at once, and not just my favorite tracks off the album. So artist plays, rather than song plays are usually a better metric of my taste.

JacobApr 11, 2008 at 7:49PM

1. L'Onde Amère - Keren Ann (41)
2. John Wayne Gacy, Jr. - Sufjan Stevens (34)
3. Sparks - Coldplay (32)
4. Hide and Seek - Imogen Heap (30)
5. Wherever You Are - Neil Finn (29)

AndrewApr 11, 2008 at 7:55PM

I DJ college bars in New York. Here's my top five:

1. LIvin' On A Prayer - Bon Jovi (481)
2. Pour Some Sugar On Me - Def Leppard (464)
3. Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison (460)
4. You Give Love a Bad Name - Bon Jovi (459)
5. Shook Me All Night Long - AC/DC (455)

Someone give me a sharp object...

NathanApr 11, 2008 at 7:55PM

Don't Panic - Coldplay (29)
My family's role in the world revolution - Beirut (28)
Wheels - Cake (28)
Comin' Down - Meat Puppets (28)
The Grouch - Green Day (27)

Kevin SpencerApr 11, 2008 at 8:03PM

Up above, John said "And last.fm is not accurate about playcounts because it groups together a bunch of untitleds."

Sure if you haven't tagged your music correctly then your last.fm profile won't be accurate. So don't do that ;-) But then if your music isn't tagged correctly then how would any desktop playcounts be any more accurate?

BoApr 11, 2008 at 8:16PM

88: The Suits Are Picking Up the Bill, Squirrel Nut Zippers
69: Once Around the Weekend, Paul Westerberg
54: Whisky You're the Devil, Tommy Makem & The Clancy Brothers
48: Summertime, The Sundays
44: Laurens Walking, Angelo Badalamenti
41: London in the Rain, Variety Lab

TomApr 11, 2008 at 8:17PM

D'yer Maker - (Bluegrass cover) - 194
Tell Me Baby - Red Hot Chili Peppers - 46
Snow (Hey Oh) - Red Hot Chili Peppers - 46
Joe Strummer - Cowboy Mouth - 42
My Wasted Friends - Ike Reilly Assassination - 41
Garbage Day - Ike Reilly Assassination - 41
Neon Crossing - Our Lady Peace - 37

The bluegrass cover is almost more popular than the next five songs put together. What can I say? I like it even more than the original.

ValetteApr 11, 2008 at 8:26PM

The Format - The Lottery Song (117)
Erik Ostrom - I Am Tempted (101)
Iron & Wine - Naked As We Came (101)
Matt Costa - Sunshine (99)
The Bicycles - Paris Be Mine (96)
Muse - Map of the Problematique (95)

100 songs in my library have been played 50 times or more; 348 have been played 30 times or more.

sallyjonesApr 11, 2008 at 8:47PM

b+s- black and white unite [97
slowdive- portstheme [66
chopin- nocturnes op.9 [62
gang gang dance- nomad for love (canibal) [59
fischerspooner- the 15th [41

GuyApr 11, 2008 at 8:49PM

Holy crap they are all my son's music ...

Upside Down by Jack Johnson from curious george 79
People watching by Jack Johnson from curious george 68
Sharing song by Jack Johnson from curious george 67
Hold On Tight the Backyardigans 56
Gotta get the job done the backyardigans 48

DanApr 11, 2008 at 8:59PM

1) Ghost Wars "Destroyed, the Sword of St. Michael" 151
2) Mountain Goats "The Sign" 102
3) the Notwist "One Step Inside..." 87
4) the Microphones "Heart Lake Rd" 85
5) Ghost Wars "Lay Down Your Weapons" 82

694 [tie]) Fischerspooner "Emerge" 9

PauletteApr 11, 2008 at 9:02PM

Superfly

ChrisClarkApr 11, 2008 at 9:02PM

Crushcrushcrush by Paramore 26
Misery Business by Paramore 25
Don't Stop Believin by Journey 17
Never Again by Kelly Clarkson 16
Over It by Katharine McPhee 15

Nobody's going to believe this, but these stats are only like this because I've reformatted and/or moved computers a bunch of times, therefore zeroing out my playcounts.

Seriously, I'm not this lame....

NatalieApr 11, 2008 at 9:05PM

1. 'Tiny Plastic Cup' - Kisschasy
2. 'From The Sea' - Eskimo Joe
3. 'Honey' - The Hush Sound
4. 'When The Day Met The Night' - Panic at the Disco
5. 'Vibrations In Air' - Josh Pyke

I won't list the play counts, way too embarrassing... (They are over one hundred, I'll say that much.)

rudybangApr 11, 2008 at 9:15PM

The Light (Part Two) by Mason Jennings, 96 plays

Then the next on the list are all the songs from Do Make Say Think's Winter Hymn Country Hymn Secret Hymn with an average play count of 83 and standard deviation of 6.

Either Way by Wilco, 72 plays

Teenage Space by Smog, 69 plays

...

rebeccaApr 11, 2008 at 9:53PM

seriously feeling like a freak now...i clearly listen to songs TOO much when i like them

1. BONNIE PINK - Last Kiss (3630)
2. BONNIE PINK - 5 More Minutes (1774)
3. Wicked OBC - I'm Not That Girl (1613)
4. Garbage - Cup of Coffee (1589)
5. BONNIE PINK - Just a Girl (1426)

I have been using iTunes since May 2005 so it has been counting since then.

MikeApr 11, 2008 at 9:56PM

I don't quite trust iTunes totals because they seem suspiciously low and they may not include the songs I play on my iPod. Nevertheless, my current top five:

1. 'London Loves (Londinium Loves bootleg)' - Go Home Productions
2. 'Rebel Never Gets Old (GHP 7th Heaven edit)' - Go Home Productions
3. 'What are You Doing the Rest of Your Life' - The Real Group
4. 'The Bear' - Steely Dan
5. 'Nevermind on 45' - Lee Rosevere

Rick YribeApr 11, 2008 at 10:06PM

I haven't been using iTunes for very long so my numbers are relatively small:

1. Star Power by Sonic Youth (69)
2. Sometimes by My Bloody Valentine (68)
3. We Will Fall Together by Streetlight Manifesto (62)
4. Hoodwink by Anathallo (61)
5. Bodysnatchers by Radiohead (54)

Janet BellApr 12, 2008 at 12:30AM

Wow, I was surprised at my list:
1. Shine by Shannon Noll, (41)
2. Up Against the Wall by Peter, Bjorn and John (39)
3. Please Please Please by Final Fantasy (31)
4. Intervention by The Arcade Fire (30)
5. Simple Twist of Fate by Bob Dylan (28)

AdrianApr 12, 2008 at 4:11AM

1. Breathe Me - Sia (102)
2. On the Radio - Regina Spector (69)
3. Voodoo Child - Rouge Trader (68)
4. Raindrops - Stunt (67)
5. Cold Man's Nightmare - Cathy Davey (66)

(although if I normalised some repeat tracks between singles and albums I think there might be some change)

28 Songs played over 50 times
90 Songs played over 40 times
164 Songs played over 35 times
252 songs played over 30 times
574 Songs played over 20 times
1493 Songs played over 10 times
2684 Songs played over over 5 times
6331 Songs played at least once
8702 Songs in the library

almostinfamousApr 12, 2008 at 4:15AM

according to itunes(which stores mostly greatest hits type stuff):

King of Carrot Flowers, Pt 2 & 3 - Neutral Milk Hotel- 45 times
Career Opportunities - The Clash - 42
The Man who Sold the World - David Bowie - 38
Just What I Needed - The Cars - 29
Radar Love - Golden Earring - 24

my last.fm charts tell a different story however :)

HvIApr 12, 2008 at 4:29AM

1. Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (Barenboim)- Gute Nacht (Schubert Winterreise) (516 times - last song of the day)
2. Moloko - Forever More (181)
3. dEUS - The Ideal Crash (126)
4. Looper - Mondo '77 (126)
5. Rufus Wainwright - The One You Love (112)
6. Tiefschwarz - Dominik Eulberg / Adler (111)

Excitable BoyApr 12, 2008 at 8:14AM

I Ain't Ever Satisfied 4:04 Steve Earle 47 Times
Ride 'Till I'm Satisfied 4:38 Walter Trout 43 Times
M'bifé 2:11 Amadou & Mariam 39 Times
The First Song 3:43 Band of Horses 34 Times
Johnny Strikes Up the Band 2:52 Warren Zevon 33 Times

JoakimApr 12, 2008 at 9:22AM

I have to say thay I thought the playcounts would be higher.

Here are mine top 5:
International You Day - No Use For A Name - 193 times
I Will Follow You In The Dark - Death Cab For Cutie - 151 times
Too Young - Phoenix - 146 times
Colorblind - Counting Crows - 129 times
A Praise Chorus - 127 times

Paul D. WaiteApr 12, 2008 at 11:25AM

I was going to say “FISCHERSPOONER?!?!?”, but then I looked at my number one:

‘Dirty Mind’ The Pipettes—77
‘We Run This’ Missy Elliott—76
‘Banquet’ Bloc Party—72
‘It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)’ R.E.M.—70
‘Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy’ Bette Midler—68

MaxApr 12, 2008 at 12:02PM

I download a little program that keeps track of which songs you listen to, and that information goes onto your profile. That way you get lovely lists of how many times you have already listened to this or that band the past week.

John IApr 12, 2008 at 12:34PM

San Diego Zoo - The 6ths: 89
Astronaut - Luna: 69
Neonlicht - Kraftwerk: 54
Special Guest Star - Champale: 47
The Emergency Kisses - Stereolab: 45

There's some skewing as some are the first song on a fave playlist, but still.

NevApr 12, 2008 at 12:52PM

The Cheeky Girls - The Cheeky Song (Touch My Bum) - 4,718 times.
Everything else - 1 time.

Stian KApr 12, 2008 at 2:39PM

According to my last.fm, I've got a really great taste in music:
1 The Knife – We Share Our Mother's Health 51
2 Refused – Refused Are Fucking Dead 38
3 Rumble in Rhodos – Lotus challenger 35
4 The Blood Brothers – Set Fire To The Face On Fire 30
4 The Blood Brothers – Laser Life 30

paul merrillApr 12, 2008 at 3:44PM

1 Eisley: "Many Funerals" = 8 times.

There are so few plays because I did not re-import the play count when I upgraded to Leopard, a few months ago.

lukeApr 12, 2008 at 8:30PM

Say Yes - Elliott Smith
Thirteen - Elliott Smith
Apartment Story - The National
Half Acre - Hem
Dear Chicago - Ryan Adams

glitchApr 12, 2008 at 11:46PM

there will be blood soundtrack

1. Future Markets (40)
2. Henry Plainview (39)
3. There will Blood (39)
4. Open Spaces (38)
5. Proven Lands (38)

It quickly gets into Serge Gainsbourg, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, The Raveonettes, The Firey Furnances, ODB, and Acid Bath

but I musta fallen asleep a few times to TWBB SDKT

Vincent van WylickApr 13, 2008 at 4:27AM

From iTunes:
1. Thom Yorke - Black Swan (29x)
2. Darron Flagg - C-Major Prelude from The Well Tempered Clavier (25x)
3. Interpol - C'mere (25x)
4. Ultra396 - Beastie Boys vs Dandys (25x)
5. Faktion - Take It Away (22x)

I have a completely different list on Last.fm, don't know why.

DinoApr 13, 2008 at 1:26PM

From my last.fm list:

1. Änglagård – Saknadens fullhet
2 Andromeda – In The End
3 Andromeda – The Hidden Riddle
4. Pain of Salvation – Of Two Beginnings
5. Dream Theater – In The Presence Of Enemies - Part I

Andy CoffeyApr 13, 2008 at 11:20PM

Im an album listener, always thought I was - a quick look at the stats confirms this. My top 5 tracks all come from Wolf Parade's "Apologies to the Queen Mary". What a record that is.

OverwormApr 14, 2008 at 2:51AM

Joe Henderson - "Mode For Joe" - played 49 times
Alicia Keys - "No One" - played 43 times
Damian Marley - "Welcome To Jamrock" - played 43 times
Sugarland - "Something More" - played 42 times
Kelly Clarkson - "Walk Away" - played 42 times
Rhymefest - "Sister" - played 41 times

I would have guess my favorite songs got more play, but it appears 40 plays is the approximate limit for me right now.

0 songs played more than 50 times
8 songs played more than 40 times
42 songs played more than 30 times

MagpieApr 14, 2008 at 4:07AM

From my last.fm:

Neutral Milk Hotel - The King of Carrot Flowers (32)
Kasabian - Processed Beats (30)
Smiths - What difference does it make (29)
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Gold Lion (29)
The Verve - Bitter Sweet Symphony (25)

Now I want to make a playlist based on everyone here's faves!

AnandApr 14, 2008 at 11:06AM

James Horner - Rose (1615)
Celine Dion - My Heart Will Go On (1537)
Bryan Adams - Summer of 69 (212)

Alexander BobinApr 14, 2008 at 11:15AM

Great to see Cut Copy in there. Make sure you get their new album In Ghost Colours!

judson Apr 14, 2008 at 11:32AM

since I'm a songwriter my top five songs played are my originals. I play them over and over and over to get them right.

Sam BarnumApr 14, 2008 at 1:40PM

Pete Seeger "Skip to My Lou" and "Abiyoyo" and other Pete Seeger songs. I have 2 young boys and they're immune to repetition. The want to hear the same tracks over and over and over, so I put them on repeat and they dance around, while I cringe a bit more with each iteration.

Tim JonesApr 14, 2008 at 8:46PM

If you had asked me to guess prior to checking I would have thought these numbers would be much higher, especially given how long I've been listening via itunes.

Erin McKeown - Cosmopolitans 115
Sarah Harmer - Pendulum 97
Phoenix - Too Young 77
Pretty Girls Make Graves - All Medicated Geniuses 77
Kate Bush - Nocturn 72

The PagemanApr 15, 2008 at 8:00AM

if you remove the Arize Live tracks by Jon Owens from my track playlist whic on average I've heard about 100 times it comes out to:

1. Uniting Nations – Ai No Corrida 80
2. Augustana – Boston 63
3. Julianne Tarroja – Liwanag (Live at Conspiracy Garden) 57
4. Second Person – Water 42
5. Second Person – Wood 41

BryceApr 15, 2008 at 5:05PM

Excluding my own songs which I've listened to a lot for some reason (vanity?):

1. Punks in the Beerlight - Silver Jews - 55
2. Hell Ya (Pistol Pete Remix) - Dead Prez - 49
3. Hardcore Romantics - Mark Mallman - 49
4. Two - Ryan Adams - 47
5. 1926 - V; - 46

I think the median play count for my whole library is 1, though.

DennisApr 16, 2008 at 3:28AM

1. The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus – Cat and Mouse - 141 plays
2. Panic at the Disco – Nine In The Afternoon - 131 plays
3. Fall Out Boy – I'm Like A Lawyer With The Way I'm Always Trying To Get You Off (Me + You), 113 plays
4. Fall Out Boy – Thriller, 112 plays
5. Simon Webbe – Coming Around Again, 111 plays

DennisApr 16, 2008 at 3:35AM

Forgot to mention something:

6 songs have been played 100 times or more. 50 songs 50 times or more. 106 songs 35 times or more.

This thread is closed to new comments. Thanks to everyone who responded.